About Us

Monona Campus

The Monona Campus, with its gentle, glaciated patchwork of oak savanna, wetlands, prairies and woodlands provides a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the city life that surrounds it. Here, visitors are invited to explore local flora and fauna on the nature trails, visit the Children’s Shack and explore our Nature Nook play spaces as well as participate in family-friendly public programs.

Visit us! We love visitors at ALNC! Our trails are free and open to the public from dawn until dusk. Our Nature Nook play spaces, gift shop, lobby and restrooms are open to the public during all open hours at no cost.

Check out our Visit Us page to discover all of the cool things to do as you plan your next visit!

ADMISSION RATES UPDATE:Admission to all of our indoor play spaces is FREE!
Visit us seven days a week to connect with nature and learn about our world! As always, our hiking trails remain FREE and open to the public daily from dawn until dusk. Check our Calendar of Events to view public events and guided programs.

Accessibility:
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center (ALNC) is dedicated to remaining accessible to the community and general public while making every effort to provide safe and enjoyable experiences for our students, visitors, and staff. For more information on how we are expanding access, please see our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEAs) Policy Initiative. All staff, volunteers, visitors and members of the public shall maintain reasonable personal conduct and decorum while on the premises. Please see our Personal Conduct Policy for more information. If you have specific questions or special needs, please call 608.221.0404, ext. 0.

Sustainability:
The Aldo Leopold Nature Center is committed to sustainable practices and technologies, and our facility showcases innovative renewable energy systems, building techniques, and sustainable practices and initiatives including use of solar energy, water efficiency systems, sustainable siting, and more. Click here for more information!

Winter Weather Policies:
As a general rule, the Aldo Leopold Nature Center will be closed and programs canceled if the City of Madison public transit services are discontinued (full service cancellation) due to inclement weather. If a closing occurs, a notice will be put on our homepage as well as on our Facebook page.

Take the South Beltline (Hwy 12-18) to Monona Drive. Exit North and continue past the Monona Drive/Broadway Street intersection.

Turn East on Femrite Drive and pull into the driveway after the Monona Meadows sign on the North side of the street. There is a sign for the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Monona’s Woodland Park.

Follow the driveway up the hill; the Nature Center is located just south of the main parking lot. All buses must park in the first parking lot. For schools, this is also where students will greet the Naturalists.